DODGERS/ANGELS NOTEBOOK: Dee Gordon sent back to Albuquerque

Regardless, there was the Dodgers shortstop on the field Monday, taking early batting practice less than an hour before he was officially optioned to Triple-A Albuquerque to make room for Jerry Hairston Jr. on the active roster.

"Luis (Cruz) gives us a little more coverage at third and short," Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said. "We're trying to believe that Luis can still do some things."

That tepid endorsement of the 29-year-old Cruz underscored the difference between his contract, which does not include a minor-league option, and Gordon's, which does.

Gordon has been shuffling between the majors and minors since losing the starting shortstop job in the middle of last season.

The Dodgers are stuck with Cruz, who started at third base for the 14th time this season and batted eighth against the Angels. He went 1 for 3 to raise his batting average to .105.

Even if he keeps hitting, Cruz may be out of time very soon.

Shortstop Hanley Ramirez ran the bases for the first time since straining his left hamstring on May 3. He could make a rehabilitation assignment by the end of the week and return to the Dodgers next week if all goes well.

"As we get through Anaheim, we're talking about him playing some games the next few days," Mattingly said.

Nick Punto started at shortstop and made a fantastic diving stop on a scorching ground ball by Howie Kendrick to end the first inning. Punto and Cruz could get the lion's share of starts at shortstop after Gordon started 17 of the 20 games following Ramirez's hamstring injury.

Hairston completed a rehab assignment with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday. He missed 17 games after straining his left groin May 5.

Gordon had an on-base percentage of .359 through his first nine games this season but tailed off over his final 10. He collected just two hits and three walks.

"He's like a Michael Bourn for me," Mattingly said. "Early on he wasn't a guy you feared at all. He kept getting better and better."

Beckett has setback

Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett was scheduled to throw at least 15 pitches off a mound Monday or today, but the recuperating right-hander is back to waiting after a recurrence of tingling and numbness in his right fingers.

Beckett will undergo an MRI exam tomorrow to determine the source of his symptoms.

The Dodgers did not initially reveal the extent of Beckett's injuries after the right-hander fell to 0-5 with a loss to the Washington Nationals on May 13. The next day, he went on the disabled list with a strained left groin, although Mattingly noted Beckett was dealing with other injuries.

On Monday, Mattingly said "the groin's been good and the arm has gone bad."

In eight starts this year spanning 43 innings, Beckett is 0-5 with a 5.19 earned-run average. Opponents have a .336 batting average on balls in play against him.

Tommy Hanson's next start will be with the Angels, manager Mike Scioscia said.

Hanson threw a five-inning, 75-pitch simulated game last Saturday in Arizona. The right-hander has been on the restricted list since May 10 as he deals with the aftermath of his stepbrother's death. But with Hanson coming back, it could put additional pressure on tonight's starter, Joe Blanton.

Blanton signed a one-year, $3.725 million contract in the offseason but has done little to justify keeping his spot in the rotation. The right-hander is 1-7 with a 6.19 earned-run average. His losses and ERA rank second and third, respectively, from the bottom of the American League.

Jerome Williams began the season in the Angels' bullpen but has gone 3-1 with a 3.19 ERA as a starter. Williams' next turn in the rotation is Friday against the Houston Astros.

Also ...

Dodgers left-hander Scott Elbert will throw Wednesday for Triple-A Albuquerque after emerging healthy from back-to-back rehab outings last weekend for Double-A Chattanooga. He has pitched in eight minor-league games as he attempts to return from multiple surgeries. ... Angels left-hander Sean Burnett was scheduled to meet with a doctor after experiencing stiffness in his left forearm. Manager Mike Scioscia said the latest injury is connected to his surgically repaired elbow and is in a different area from where Burnett experienced forearm stiffness earlier in the season. Burnett missed 22 games with that injury. ... Buzz Aldrin, the second person to walk on the moon, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Dodgers reliever Javy Guerra.